A look at the origins of a holiday.

1. Merry WalkWaterMass
An essay by Alan Williamson
He's the reason for the season. Put Christ back into Christmas. So goes the spirit of Christmas
these days when the end of December approaches. Some people worship in ignorance a God they do
not understand in ways that God has NOT appointed. Others worship the material, commercial aspects
of the holiday in their eager anticipation of gifts and presents just waiting under the tree to be
unwrapped. Such a diversity of beliefs, attitudes and expectations are blended together in this Christ-
mass day.
Lost in the moment is any consideration to how God may
actually look down on this "celebration". Does it really matter
what God might think?i How could we know the mind of God and
how He might accept / or reject the worship of men? Do the
scriptures reveal anything that could inform us concerning this
Christmas day?
We could examine the religious aspect of the Christmas
celebration. Does this day commemorating the birth of Jesus belong in the religious calendar that God
has appointed for the faithful to keep? A quick check of the New Testament will reveal that there is no
mention of Christmas (or Easter, or Halloween, etc.). So, is it permitted for men to create religious
holidays for the purpose of worshiping God in ways He has not authorized?ii Looking at it from this
perspective, most serious disciples today would not agree with "making things up" in the Name of God.
But, there have been - and maybe still are - some who see no harm in inventing religious days of
worship.
Suppose someone were to decide today
that it would be a good idea to choose a day to
commemorate the miracle when Jesus walked on
water. A warm day in summer is selected,
traditions are appointed, significance is given to
water, the boat, the storm, etc. and Christians
everywhere are invited to begin celebrating the
day of WalkWaterMass. Churches will hold
religious services to remember what Jesus did.
Christians everywhere will have a boat in their
living rooms, decorated with lights and tinsel and
filled with presents.
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2. Surely NO one would object to creating such a holiday without direction from God.iii After all it
is done in the “spirit” of Christ. What would it hurt to make it up and celebrate it, especially when we
enjoy the holidays so much? Ah, but you say to create such a holy day would be absurd. Then let me
offer some “good reasons” to do it.
Suppose we were trying to preach the gospel a culture of sea-faring people. They lived near
water, worked on boats, ate a lot of fish and generally were all wrapped up culturally in all things
related to the sea / water. Because of their religion (pagan idolatry) they celebrated every summer a
feast to Neptune wherein they worshiped according to their ancient superstitions. Now, once they are
exposed to the gospel, they turn their hearts to Jesus Christ. They learn the truth of God’s grace and the
redemption that is through faith in His Son. But, what do we do with their pagan celebrations?
It is here that we have two choices. One, we could teach them that their idolatry was vain, an
empty expression of worshiping someone / something other than the True and Living God.iv They could
be encouraged to abandon their festivals in favor of worshiping God in spirit and in truth.v Or, the other
option would be to co-opt their pagan festival by giving it a Christian significance. In this way they could
continue to keep their day, their celebrations, their traditions, etc. as long as they embraced the new
Christian flavor.
Thus, WalkWaterMass is born. Instead of celebrating the god, Neptune, we will now celebrate
our Lord Jesus on this day. Because Jesus walked on water, we can adapt our Christian faith to their
pagan celebrations, simply changing the names of things to make it appear “Christian”. We can worship
Jesus (a good thing, no?) and have time for family, presents, feasting while we bring WalkWaterMass
boats into our living rooms. Decorated with lights and tinsel we can smell the aroma of the sea and
remember Jesus, how He got into the boat after walking on the
water in the night. After all, who would object to celebrating such a
wonderful miracle as Jesus walking on the water?vi
Over time the celebration of Jesus walking on water will get
lost in all the commercialism of the season. Emphasis on buying and
giving presents, decorating the house with lights and putting up the
WalkWaterMass boat will overwhelm any religious significance that the day may have held long ago. A
water skiing Saint Nicolas Cage will be invented and his boat full of presents pulled by 12 dashing
manatees will take center stage for the holiday. As the years pass the people will think less and less
about the miracle of Jesus walking on water, so much so that the pious will begin to cry out, “Put Jesus
back in WalkWaterMass.”
Perhaps you have ceased reading and are no longer interested in this article. I understand.
People do not like for others to tamper with their beloved traditions. Anyone who would dare to
suggest that WalkWaterMass is not really a day appointed by God to celebrate His Son, well… let’s just
say the message is not welcome in homes where the boat has been decorated and the presents are all
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3. wrapped and the children wait expectantly on the night before WalkWaterMass for St. Nicholas Cage to
come down the shower faucet and deliver the toys.
It is only in the theater of the absurd that we can recognize the absurdity of what we have
embraced in our lives as normal. I know the truth about WalkWaterMass. I know that God did NOT
appoint a day to remember this miracle. Further, I am against the church celebrating such days in the
Name of God. Such celebrations would be without Divine approval. We know that men cannot just
make up religious days and put them on the church calendar. But some respond, “I like to celebrate
WalkWaterMass as a secular holiday. It is fun. What is wrong with it? I LIKE having a boat in the living
room all decorated and full of presents. We cannot deprive our children of this joy. They should not be
made to feel different from everyone else who is celebrating WalkWaterMass.” Right?
When people ask me why I do not celebrate Christmas or
Easter, it is hard to explain that I do not participate because I
want to please God. I do not try to celebrate these holidays in a
“secular” sense. I am not willing to embrace something that is
clearly NOT appointed by God just because I think it is fun. I
prefer my truth unmixed with Catholic / Pagan / secular
traditions. I am aware that others feel differently. Some work
tirelessly to put Christ back in Christmas. But, Jesus was NEVER
in the Christ-mass wherein Catholicism adopted / adapted pagan
celebrations into their church calendar. Others simply like to
observe a secular version of Xmas, sanitized of most if not all
religious content. Ignoring the original meanings of Christmas
(both pagan and Catholic), there are people who simply enjoy all
the celebrating for celebration’s sake. I cannot comfortably fit
into either of these positions.
I am not trying to steal Christmas from anyone. The world will have their celebrations and Black
Friday sales will continue as long as a Walmart stands on the corner. Trees will be cut down and bells
will ring outside of retail stores, holiday treats will be baked and letters will be sent to Santa in
expectation that he will deliver on our list of wishes at the appointed time (December 25). I have NO
interest in trying to steal your Christmas away from you. You can do whatever you want.
What I would appreciate is for everyone else to NOT try to engage me in your celebrations. Do
not feel sorry for me because I do not have a tree in my home, or wait for Santa Claus to come. I prefer
truth in my life. If Christmas is a man-made, religious (now secular) holy day invented by men long ago,
forgive me if I do not want to celebrate it. Try not to condemn me if I speak the truth about this so-
called holiday. I do not condemn you for your participation in Christmas (Easter, Halloween, etc.). I seek
only to help you understand what you are doing.vii
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4. Everything that is right and good and true about Christmas can be practiced anytime during the
year. There is no “season” for benevolence. There is no limit on gift giving. One can worship God and be
thankful for Jesus any day of the year. To be with family or to have a festive dinner is not wrong. One
can engage in doing these good things anytime you desire (even in December, and may I dare say even
on the 25th). No one has to surrender any good thing that pleases God simply because he rejects
Christmas celebrations because they are NOT of God.
Truth hurts. Perhaps that explains why some react so negatively to
learn that Santa Claus is not real. In the same way, some feel hurt to learn
that December 25 in NOT the day Jesus was born. It is like long held beliefs
are being questioned. But does it matter how long I have believed
something – if it is not true? Isn’t truth important?viii Perhaps it is time for
those who truly seek to please God in these matters to understand
WalkWaterMass for what it is. However, well intentioned the inventors of
the holiday were, it is not from God.
i
Matthew 15:9 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.
ii
Galatians 4:8-11 Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods: 9
but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and
beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and
seasons, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.
iii
Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God the Father through him.
iv
1 Thessalonians 1:8-9 For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia,
but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything. 9 For they
themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from
idols, to serve a living and true God
v
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
vi
Matthew 14:24-33 But the boat was now in the midst of the sea, distressed by the waves; for the wind was
contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea. 26 And when the
disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost; and they cried out for fear. 27 But
straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and
said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto the upon the waters. 29 And he said, Come. And Peter went down from
the boat, and walked upon the waters to come to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and
beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and
took hold of him, and saith unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were
gone up into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And they that were in the boat worshipped him, saying, Of a truth
thou art the Son of God.
vii
Galatians 4:16 So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?
viii
John 8:31-32 Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my
disciples; 32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Alan Williamson
December 2011
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